Discharge wave generator



y 1949. D. L. HINGS 2,468,754

DISCHARGE WAVE GENERATOR sourw: OF PULSED CONTlNUOUS WAVES Filed Aug. 6, 1945 PULSED CONTINUOUS 5 WAVE; AND INTERFERENCE l5 WAV V T3! ILOW FREQUENCY 0 GENEW M HMSOQRCE INVEN'IgR BY TOR NE? acted Maya-1949 2,468,754 I DISCHARGE WAVE GENERATOR Donald L. Hings, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Cornell-Dubilicr Electric Corporation,

N. J a corporation of Delaware South 'Plainiield,

Application August a, 1945, set-aim. 609,259 In Canada July 20, 1945' 1 BClaims. (01. 332-54) 1 My. invention relates, in general, to a wave generator, and, more particularly, to a gaseousdischargewave generator which may be adapted to inject into a pulsed continuous wave amplifier an interference-wave or discharge-wave which may be utilized to control and govern current responsive devices. The term discharge or interference wave as used in this application shall be defined as any form of wave energy produced from a space-discharge device.

An object of my invention is to provide for generating an interference-wave having damped components which may be injected into a pulsed continuous wave amplifier for modifying the energy of the pulsed continuous wave amplifier to control a current responsive device such as a limiter connected to the amplifier.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a gaseous-discharge tube, so connected as to, be under a state of continuous ionization, thereby producing high-frequency discharges to be utilized in a control system for a reception system of pulsed continuous waves.

Another objectof my invention is to provide for amplifying the high-frequency discharges of the gaseous tube and injecting the amplified energy into a pulsed continuous wave amplifier having pulses producing alternate spacer and marker intervals, whereby the injected energy may be utilized during the spacer intervals to controlor govern current responsive devices connected to the amplifier.

Another object of my invention is to provide for governing and limiting the amount ofv gaseous-discharge energy which may be injected into a pulsed continuous wave amplifier.

Another object 01' my invention is to provide for modulating static discharge or interferencewaves.

Another object of my invention is to provide for utilizing discharge-waves as carrier waves.

Another object of my invention is to produce an untuned, modulated discharge-wave.

Another object of my invention is to provide for injecting an untuned modulated discharge-wave into a pulsed continuous wave amplifier.

Other objects and a fuller understandin of my invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken'in combination with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 represents a diagrammatic illustration of a circuit embodying the features of my invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a pulsed continuous wave I having oil and on periods producing, respectively. alternate spacer and marker intervals; I

Figure 3 represents a lscharge-wave as" may be produced by a gaseous-discharge tube employed in my discharge-wave generatorcircuit;

Figure 4 represents an untuned modulated discharge-wave of random wave shape, which may be generated by my invention and injected into the pulsed continuous wave source; and

Figure 5 illustrates the wave form obtained across the output transformer of my system.

With reference to the drawing, the reference character It! designates a transformer having a primary winding H which is adapted to be energized from a source of continuous wave pulses. The source of continuous wave pulses may be generated by any suitable means, asused in the transmission of intelligence by time constants, such as, for example, in the operation of a teleprinter.

. The secondary winding I! of the transformer ID has a. condenser l3 connected there across. The secondary winding 12 and the condenser it are tuned substantially to resonance at the frequency of the incoming continuous waves. The energy from the secondary winding I2 is conveyed to a high-frequency voltage amplifier tube ll. As illustrated, the amplifier tube it comprises a plate I5, a cathode IS, a control grid H, a

' ary winding l2; The cathode i6 is connected to ground or to a point of reference potential. The plate 15 is connected to the upper end of a primary winding '29 of an output or coupling transformer 28. The secondary winding 30 of the output transformer 28 has a condenser 3| connected there across. The condenser 3| and the secondary winding 30 constitute a tuned circuit which may be tuned substantially to resonance at a frequency substantially equal to the frequency of the incoming pulsed continuous waves. A condenser 32 is connected across the primary winding 29 of the output or coupling transformer 28. The condenser 32 and the primary winding 2! constitute a tuned circuit which may be substantially tuned to resonance at a-frequency substantially equally to the frequency of the pulsed continuous waves. The lower end of the primary winding 28 is by-passed to ground for carrierwave frequency through a condenser 33. The screen grid l8 is'connected to ground for carrierwave frequency through a screen-grid by-pass condenser It. The screen grid I8 is connected through a voltage dropping resistor 35 to thepositive side of a high-voltage source indicated by the reference character 44.. The operation of the amplifier-tube I4 is such that it amplifies, the pulsed continuous waves supplied thereto for the transmission of intelligence, such, for example, as may be employed in a teleprinter comthe output of the amplifier 5| produces a modulated wave such as illustrated, for example, in

Figure 4 of the drawing. With the switch open', the injected amplified discharge-waves have a random peaked envelope, such as shown in Figure 3. The suppressor grid 55 is connected to the cathode ,53 through a high-frequency by-pass condenser 55.. The plate 52 of the amplifier tube 5| is connected to the control grid I! of. the amplifier tube |4 through a coupling condenser 64.

Therefore, the amplified energy of the amplifier tube 5| is injected into the pulsed continuous.

munication system. The Figure 3 shows spurious V discharges such as may be present in a pulsed continuous wave system of reception. The spurious waves are of an uncontrolled character and are of random wave shape.

transformer 28, showing the carrier wave 'frequency having an envelope that has a slight variation of amplitude due to attenuation during the marker intervals. During the spacer intervals, the wave form of the output will be very irregular, but in accordance with the envelope of the discharge-waves, which are of spurious and uncontrollable character.

In my invention, I provide for injecting untuned modulated discharge-waves of random wave shape into the pulsed continuous wave system. I preferably generate the discharge-waves by means of gaseous-discharge tube 40, comprising a plate 4|, a cathode 42 and a grid 43 which may be connected to the cathode 42. The plate 4| of the gaseous-discharge tube 40 is connected to the positive side of the high-voltage source 44 through a circuit, beginning at the high-voltage source, which includes an isolating resistor 45, a conductor 46, a switch 41, and a plate load resistance 48 which is connected to the plate 4|. The gaseous-discharge tube is so connected that, when the switch 41 is closed, it is under a state of continuous ionization, thereby producing high-frequency discharges such as represented by way of example in Figure 3.

The discharges from the gaseous-discharge tube 40 are amplified by means of an amplifier tube 5| comprising a plate 52, a cathode 53, a control grid 54, a screen grid 55 and a suppressor grid 56. The plate 4| of the gaseous-discharge tube is connected to the control grid 54 of the amplifier tube 5| through a coupling condenser 49. The control grid 54 is connected to ground through a grid resistor 51. The cathode 53 is by-passed for high frequency to ground through a condenser 6|. The cathode 53 is connected to ground through a fixed cathode bias resistor 52 and an adjustable gain resistor 63. The screen grid 55 is connected to the positive side of the high-voltage source 44 through a screen grid voltage dropping resistor 59 and the resistor 45. The screen grid 55 is by-passed to ground for high frequency through a by-pass condenser 58. The plate 52 is connected to the positive side of the high-voltage source 44 through a plate load resistor 60 and the isolating resistor 45.

In my discharge generator circuit, I may provide for modulating the discharge-waves by a low-frequency generator, such as indicated by the reference character 61, which may be of any suitable design, such, for example, as a tone generator operating at a low frequency as compared to -the frequency of the continuous waves. The output of the low-frequency generator 51 may be connected by meansof a switch Hi to the suppressor grid 56 of the amplifier tube 5], whereby The Figure 5 illustrates the wave form obtained across the output wave system, with the result that the output of the coupling or output transformer 28 produces pulsed continuous waves plus untuned modulated discharge-waves. The condenser 50, which is connected intermediate the plate load resistor 60 and the isolating resistor 45, is employed to by-pass discharge-waves to ground and prevent them from: being transmitted to the amplifier tube l4 and the output transformer 28 through the conductor 68 which is connected to the positive side of the high-voltage source 44. Accordingly,

, the discharge-waves are injected into the pulsed continuous wave system only through the control grid H. The amplifier tube 5| functions as an amplitude modulator for the discharge-waves produced by the discharge-tube 40 and the lowfrequency waves produced by the low-frequency generator 61. The tube l4 functions as an amplifier for the continuous wave pulses and the gain of the tube l4 may be controlled by a bias source 59 which is connected to the cathode J6 through an isolating resistor 22.

The output from the secondary winding 3|! on the output transformer 28 may be utilized in any limiter system. By the use of an output wave which comprises controlled injected interferencewaves, I am able to provide improved discrimination in a limiter system for the reason that the proportional amount of interference energy has been made larger than what it would be if the spurious waves only were present. Heretofore, it has been diificult to discriminate in limiter systems between the pulsed continuous waves and the spurious uncontrolled discharge-waves. By the use of my invention, I add controlled discharge-waves of a steady character, whereby discrimination can be readily obtained in a limiter system between the pulsed continuous waves and the interference-waves, since the injected interference-waves represent a larger amount of energy which may be employed as a source of steady power for control purposes. In other words, the energy representing the interference-waves has been made larger and steadier, whereby they may connected to said amplifier-modulator, and means for injecting the high-frequency discharge-waves into the said amplifier-modulator for producing in said load said high-frequency discharge-waves at least during the spacer, intervals.

2. In combination, a first amplifier-modulator for amplifying pulsed carrier waves having off and on periods producing alternate spacer and marker intervals, a gaseous-discharge tube for producing high frequency discharge-waves, a load responsive to said discharge-waves connected to said first amplifier-modulator, a second amplifiermodulator, a low frequency generator, means for connecting the gaseous-discharge tube to the second amplifier-modulator whereby the second amplifier-rnodulator amplifies the high frequency discharge-waves, means for connecting the low frequency generator to the second amplifier-modulator for amplitude modulating the amplified discharge-waves, and means for applying the amplitude modulated discharge-waves to said first amplifier-modulator for producing in said load high frequency discharge-waves at least during the spacer intervals.

3. In combination, a pulsed continuous wave system having a first amplifier-modulator tube including at least a grid, a gaseous-discharge tube for producing high frequency discharge-waves, a load responsive to said discharge-waves connected to said first amplifier-modulator tube, a second amplifier-modulator tube for amplifying the high frequency discharge-waves produced by the gaseous-discharge tube, said second amplifier-modulator tube having an output plate circuit, and means for connecting the output plate circuit to the-grid of the first amplifier-modulator tube for injecting amplified high frequency dischargewaves into the pulsed continuous wave system.

4. In combination, a pulsed continuous wave system having a first amplifier-modulator tube including at least a grid, a. gaseous-discharge tube for producing high frequency discharge-waves, a load responsive to said discharge-waves connected to said first amplifier-modulator tube, a second amplifier-modulator tube for amplifying the high frequency discharge-waves produced by the gaseous-discharge tube having an output plate circuit, means for connecting the output plate circuit to the grid of the first amplifier-modulator tube for injecting amplified high frequency discharge waves into the pulsed continuous wave system, said second amplifier-modulator tube having a grid, a low frequency generator, and means for connecting the output of the low frequency generator to the grid of the second amplifier-modulator tube thereby producing amplitude modulated discharge-waves in the plate output circuit of the second amplifier-modulator tube.

5. In a reception system for pulsed continuous waves having on and 01! periods producing alternate marker and spacer intervals, input means for receiving said pulsed continuous waves. a

gaseous-discharge tube for producing an output voltage of random frequencies and amplitudes, an amplifier tube having a grid, means for applying the output of said gaseous-discharge tube to said grid, an amplifier-mixer tube having an output and first and second grids, a load connected to the output of said amplifier-mixer-tube, means for applying the pulsed continuous waves from said input means to said first grid of said amplifier-mixer tube, and means for applying the output of said amplifier tube to the second grid of said amplifier-mixer tube to thereby produce in said load a random wave during said spacer intervals and predominantly said pulsed continuous waves during said marker intervals.

6. In a reception system for pulsed continuous waves having on and off periods producing alternate marker and spacer intervals, input means for receiving said pulsed continuous waves, a gaseous discharge tube for producing an output voltage of random frequencies and amplitudes, a first amplifier-mixer tube having first and second grids, means for applying the output of said gaseous-discharge tube to said first grid, a low frequency generator having an output, means for applying the output of said low frequency generator-to said second grid of said first amplifiermixer tube to thereby produce a modulated envelope of the random discharge waves, a second amplifier-mixer tube having an output and first and second grids, a load connected to the output of said second amplifier-mixer tube, means for applying the pulsed continuous waves from said input means to said first grid of said second amplifier mixer tube, and means for applying the output of said first amplifier-mixer tube to the second grid of said second amplifier-mixer tube to thereby produce in said load a random wave during said spacer intervals and predominantly said pulsed continuous waves during said marker intervals.

DONALD L. HINGS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS France May 11, 1928 

